TOLEDO, Ohio
Charges have been dropped against one of four U.S. soldiers accused of mistreating others in their platoon in Iraq following an investigation into the suicide of an Ohio serviceman, the military said Friday.
Spc. Daniel Weber of Frankenmuth, Mich., resigned from the Army and is expected to testify against two of his unit supervisors, said Maj. Myles Caggins, a spokesman for Multinational Division-South.
An investigation into the death of Pvt. Keiffer Wilhelm led to cruelty and maltreatment charges against Weber and the three others. Allegations included verbal abuse, physical punishment and ridicule of other soldiers.
The military has determined there is no direct evidence that the soldiers' alleged misconduct caused Wilhelm's death. But Wilhelm's family believes he was treated so badly that he took his own life.
Wilhelm, who grew up in Willard in northern Ohio, was in Iraq with his new platoon for just 10 days before he killed himself Aug. 4.
He called his mother twice from Iraq and told her he was being targeted in his new unit and forced to run for miles with rocks in his pockets that smashed against his knees, she said.
Wilhelm, 19, told his mother that he was being forced to exercise for hours and that his personal items were disappearing, Kathe Wilhelm said. A day before he died, he told her that he was being forced to go on long runs that left his knees bloody.
Kathe Wilhelm said she expects to testify at the trials for both Sgt. Enoch Chatman and Staff Sgt. Bob Clements, who were supervisors in the unit.
Clements, of Eastland, Texas, faces charges of cruelty and maltreatment, making a false statement, impeding an investigation and reckless endangerment. If convicted of all counts, he faces up to 25 years in prison.
Chatman, of West Covina, Calif., was charged with cruelty and maltreatment, making a false statement and reckless endangerment. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 10 years in prison.
Also charged with cruelty and maltreatment was Sgt. Jarrett Taylor, of Edmond, Okla.
They remain in Iraq, where legal proceedings will take place.
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